Bike Handlebars Morph into Bike Lock

Jaryn Miller has tried to crack that age-old problem, locking up a bike. It’s a problem so intractable that even the Lady, normally not given to speaking about such “dull” things, had something to say when we visited a local bike shop. “Somebody should design a strong lock that doesn’t weigh so much,” she whispered in her wonderful Catalan accent.

Miller’s answer is to make the lock part of the frame. This not only obviates the need to carry extra hardware — it also means that the bike is useless if the locks are cut. In this case, the ends of handlebars come off and are joined together onto a single hoop-shaped shackle. Destroying the lock means destroying the handlebars, although judging by the cut-down bars I have seen on some “fixies”, this mightn’t be a problem.

The second lock, made to secure the rear wheel, is integrated into the frame, although its not clear just where it is stowed when you’re riding.

I think the only real way to keep a bike secure is to suck it up and buy a pair of really big locks, preferably of different types. If your ride is too fancy to be left in the street, then don’t plan on locking it in the street, and if you really, really can’t face carrying lock, then buy a Brompton or other folding bike. Even then, you’ll end up carrying a bike instead of a lock.